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Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day gallery

What parents need to know

Positive messages

An ambitious woman is poised to throw away the love of her life to achieve stardom; she juggles three suitors (without telling any of them about the others) -- one for connections, another for the thrill, and a third for love. Nevertheless, she's sweet and warm and helps Miss Pettigrew out of her shell. And in the end, love triumphs.

Violence

A fistfight breaks out in a nightclub, and a man punches another with glee. World War II looms over the entire proceedings as bombers fly over London.

Sex

Lots of sexual innuendo doled out in witty repartee; a woman walks into a bedroom and finds a man naked under a sheet (there's an oblique reference to his erection, though that word isn't used); Delysia swoons over her "passionate" suitors; at one point, she steps out of a bath and prances around naked except for a towel that covers her front (the side of her body from shoulder to legs is visible, but no sensitive bits); she also walks around in lingerie; another woman cheats on her boyfriend and is witnessed kissing another man.

Language

Squeaky clean, except for "hell" and "damn," which one character says doesn't really count as swearing anyway.

Consumerism

Signage for the Savoy Hotel; mention of a lingerie store; Miss Pettigrew and Delysia go shopping.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Cocktails flow easily and often; some social smoking (accurate for the period).

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this is essentially a feel-good fairy tale, albeit one with adult overtones. There's some partial nudity -- Amy Adams parades around in one scene with nothing but a towel covering her front, for example -- and a handful of innuendoes. The plot is fairly mature, too, in that it's about a woman who craves stardom and will do everything -- including bed a producer -- to achieve it, even if it means losing the one man who's right for her. But there's no swearing except for "damn," and the smoking and social drinking are accurate for the late-'30s setting. And the movie approaches its heavier topics with a delightfully light touch, ultimately sending a positive, life-affirming message.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is no Mary Poppins, which may explain why she keeps losing one governess job after another. And when her agency won't give her any more work, she's left penniless and homeless. Luckily, she manages to finagle her way into a job as a social secretary for Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams), a kind-hearted but fiercely ambitious starlet who needs all the help she can get to keep her engagements -- professional and personal (she's juggling three beaus) -- in check. In just 24 hours, Miss Pettigrew does, indeed, make a difference in Delysia's life. And, much to her surprise, vice versa.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Based on the 1939 novel by Winifred Watson, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY exudes the jaunty fun of a high-society London bent on squeezing the last bit of joy out of life before heading to war. From the costumes to the Cole Porter- and piano-heavy score, all of the period details are flawless. And Adams is absolutely delightful in her role -- naughty and nice and infinitely expressive without being over the top. (Watch her twitch her nose and stick out her two front teeth when referring to a rabbity competitor and try not to be charmed.) As the well-grounded Miss Pettigrew, McDormand, clad in sensible brown shoes and a prudent wool coat, is the perfect foil to Adams' flighty, lingerie-bedecked heroine. Left to their own devices, they start the movie unmoored; together, they bring out each other's best self.

Still, as engaging as its two stars may be, on close inspection, the movie feels fragile. Its charm is winning, but plot-wise, it's precarious. Yes, it's a fairy tale, but its underpinnings barely hold it together (a little like Delysia, actually). Although we get to know Delysia well enough, the same can't be said for Miss Pettigrew -- not enough to believe that she's never lived until this one day, anyway. But sometimes we just want to go to the movies to be entertained, and that Miss Pettigrew does.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about what drives Delysia to succeed. Do you see any parallels between her situation and that of today's aspiring media stars? Why are people willing to make sacrifices to be famous? Families can also discuss why Miss Pettigrew has such an effect on Delysia. What effect does she have on Miss Pettigrew? In the movie, they both undergo an overnight change; is that believable? If not, does it matter? What do they learn from each other?

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When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.Read more

Frances and Amy are delightful

Sweet Movie, but bad

This movie, while very cute, deals with wholly "who is cheating on whom, and who is sleeping with whom". Unless you want to see male nudity a couple times, don't watch it. (Of course, it is a sweet movie)

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